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OS News Interview with Robert Watson
An Anonymous Coward writes: "OS News
is carrying an interview with Robert Watson about FreeBSD 4.5,
due out almost immediately, and FreeBSD 5.0, due out later this
year. He talks a little about the related kernel development
work between Linux and FreeBSD, including kernel preemption.
Apparently he even reads the linux-kernel mailing list, although he
complained about the volume."
I am a long time Linux/RedHat user. I definitely plan on trying out FreeBSD 4.5 and 5.0.
I believe 5.0 will bring FreeBSD's kernel up to rough parity with the Linux kernel. FreeBSD's KSE and Security infrastructure will definitely be ahead of Linux equivalents. Kqueue is already ahead of linux async IO. I'd like to find out how far
and how good FreeBSD's kernel module system works.
But as I've said before fine grained locking is HARD. It'll take some time to settle out.
Also, from the interview, I didn't quite understand his use of the term "Preemptable Kernel". On one had he said they are adding more scheduling points in the code. But that isn't strictly a "preemptable kernel" ala Robert Love's work in the Linux kernel.
I have also heard that FreeBSD is going to integrate the NetBSD init dependency rc system. Which, depending on how you look at it, is catching up to what SysV init does, or accomplishing the intention of Sysv init in a better way. Does anyone here know if FreeBSD is committed to adopting NetBSD's rc system by some specified release? 4.5? 5.0?
FreeBSD/Linux cross polination will be interesting.
-- I am not a fanatic, I am a true believer.